As ric adjusted one of the cribs, I sank onto the edge of the bed, my thoughts turning inevitably toward Nn.


    I hadn''t seen him since the night of the celebration. Part of me had expected him to reach out, to ask when he could see the boys again. But the silence stretched.


    I told myself it was a good thing. We needed distance, space to heal. And yet, every time the twins reached for my hair the way they did his, I felt the ache all over again.


    ric seemed to sense my thoughts drifting. "You''re thinking about him," he said softly.


    I didn''t deny it. "It''s hard not to."


    He leaned against the wall, arms folded. "He''s trying, Ellie. I''ve seen it. Cassian''s spoken with him several times since the announcement."


    "Trying doesn''t erase what happened,” I said quietly.


    "No," ric agreed. "But it''s the only way to change whates next."


    "I don''t know whates next. I don''t know what I want toe next," I admitted softly.


    "I think you do," ric said gently. "I think that you just don''t want to admit it."


    "What do you mean?" I looked at him, my stomach twisting with anxiety. ric had a way of seeing right through me. I was afraid of what he might say.


    "I saw you two dancing," he answered.


    The response seemed to hang in the air between us before itnded heavily on my shoulders. The dance. The not- quite kiss Nn and I had shared. Of course, people had seen.


    I rubbed my palms together, staring at the floorboards. "The public''s going to find out about the boys soon. I can''t hide them forever. And when that happens.....”


    "Everyone will have questions," ric finished for me.


    "Yes." I looked up. "They''ll know Nn''s the father. That he has his heirs. And that I kept it secret."


    ric''s expression softened. "You did what you had to do to protect them. Anyone worth their salt will understand that."


    "But not everyone is worth their salt," I murmured.


    He smiled faintly. "True. Which is why we''ll face it together."


    I nodded, but the unease didn''t leave me. "I should talk to Nn about how to


    handle it when the truthes out. The rumors haven''t stopped since the campaign


    for king began. It''s going to cause even more issues for him.”


    "That''s wise," ric said. "But don''t rush into it tonight. You''ve had enough change for one day. Settle in first."


    "Okay." I hesitated, then added softly, "Do you think he''ll be angry?"


    "At you?" ric asked. "No. At himself? Probably."


    I smiled faintly. "That''s... fair."


    He rested a hand on my shoulder. "You''re stronger than you give yourself credit for,


    little moon. The goddess doesn''t waste effort on the unworthy."


    Chapter


    "I wish she''d send clearer messages," I muttered.


    ric chuckled. "If she did, we''d stop listening."


    +25 Bonus


    We worked together for a while longer, unpacking clothes and folding nkets. The boys babbled happily from their cribs, making a game out of grabbing each other''s hands. Watching them, I felt the warmth of belonging and the ache of uncertainty twist together again.


    When ric finally left me to rest, the sun had already dipped below the trees. The packhouse had quieted, soft voices echoing distantly from the halls. I sat by the window rocking one of the twins while the other dozed.


    Outside, the night was calm - but I couldn''t shake the flicker of foreboding that had been creeping at the edges of my dreams.


    Something was shifting. I could feel it.


    My gaze drifted toward the horizon, where the border mountainsy cloaked in mist.


    Somewhere beyond them, Nn was out there. I didn''t know where or why, only that the bond between us hummed faintly now and then, like a heartbeat reaching across the dark.


    “Stay safe,” I whispered, not sure if the words were for him or myself.


    The baby stirred in my arms, sighing softly before settling again.


    I pressed a kiss to his forehead and closed my eyes, letting the rhythm of his breathing calm me.


    Tomorrow, I told herself. Tomorrow, I''d speak with Nn. We''d need to decide how to face the truth together – for the twins, for the packs, and for whatever the future might hold for us.


    For tonight, though, I allowed myself to rest. The goddess had given me this moment, this quiet in the storm. I''d take it and hope that, wherever Nn was, he could feel it too.


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